Distributor for grain and the like



June 12, 1956 R- i. PATTERSON 2,750,021

DISTRIBUTOR FOR GRAIN AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13, 1953 I I 4 Sheets-Sheet l TOQN EH 5 June 12, 1956 R. l. PATTERSON DISTRIBUTOR FOR GRAIN AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOQ F3 @7/l/50/7 HTTOIZN E V5 June 12, 1956 R. PATTERSON 2,750,021

DISTRIBUTOR FOR GRAIN AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 13, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. Peg pa/fe/ son QTTOQNEVS June 12, 1956 R. l. PATTERSON DISTRIBUTOR FOR GRAIN AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 13, 1953 [NVENTQQ Pgg @f/erxw 7% W [W FITTOIZ NE VS United States Patent DISTRIBUTOR FOR GRAIN AND THE LIKE Roy I. Patterson, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application November 13, 1953, Serial No. 391,936

14 Claims. (Cl. 193-49) This invention relates to improvements in distributors which are used in elevators to distribute incoming ele vated aggregates such as grain, seed and feed to selected storage bins. In general the invention is concerned with a distributor which is dust-tight, does not cause intermingling of different varieties of product, and which can be easily operated by remote control. In particular, the invention is concerned with a vertical type distributor that is provided with a multiplicity of vertically sloping dust-tight distributing spouts leading from one or more central tubes that are provided with inwardly swinging gates to assure complete delivery to the respective spout, and in which the tube and gates are arranged for easy replacement of parts, together with a suitable system of remotely controlling the operation of a selected gate, and in which provision is made to assure return of the product when a selected bin and its connected spout have been completely filled, without rendering the distributor ineffective.

In the process of storing and/or handling aggregates such as grain, seed, feed and the like, an elevator will receive many different varieties of products, and often many diiferent grades of the same variety of product, and special precautions must be taken to prevent the intermingling of varieties or grades of product. It will be evident that each variety of product, and often each grade of product must be stored in separate bins, and that any intermingling of different varieties or grades of product may be of serious consequence. In the practice of handling grain, seeds and feed and the like within an elevator, it is the general practice to elevate the incoming aggregate to an upper extremity of the building where it is conveyed to a distributing mechanism that is provided with a multiplicity of spouts or conduits that convey the aggregate by gravity to individual bins located in or asso ciated with the elevator. Most distributors which are in general use consist of a multiplicity of spouts that are circularly arranged about one or more axially rotatable distributors, and the distribution of aggregate is arranged by rotation of the central distributor to a selected spout. This arrangement while effective in the past, has had the shortcoming of causing a certain amount of intermingling of the diiferent varieties or grades of aggregate, and this is particularly true if the distributing tube is shifted from one spout to another while the aggregate is passing therethrough. Also, intermingling can occur when two or more varieties or grades of aggregate are being simultaneously distributed by the same mechanism.

Another difliculty which has been generally experienced with prior art distributors, was in the leakage of dust from the moving aggregate. While prior art distributors may have been relatively dust-tight when new, but through wear and usage of the parts, leaks occurred which if not promptly mended gave rise to a condition which might have resulted in a dust explosion.

Another problem which has always occurred and caused considerable difficulty is in providing a distributor for handling multiple columns of aggregate, with suitable 2,750,021 Patented June 12, 1956 over-flow means which will not cause an intermixing of the overflow of the multiple columns.

The foregoing, and many other problems in the proper distribution of grain and the like have been solved in the present invention where I have provided a distributor which may be either'a single column or a multiple column unit comprising one or more vertical tubes having a multiplicity of outlet conduits of a dust-tight nature extending therefrom, and in which the flow, other than the overflow, is restricted to only one conduit from each tube, by means of a properly constructed inwardly swinging gate that normally forms a closure between the tube and the conduit. Since distributor tubes are subject to considerable wear at certain areas through the frictional efifect of the passing product, provision must be made for the easy replacement of parts, and in the present invention all of the inner surfaces of the tube through which the aggregate passes are of an easily replaceable nature. In the present invention both the several gates as Well as certain liners that form the inner surfaces of the tube are replaceable, and resilient means in the form of a heavy layer of sponge rubber i provided to resiliently hold the liners in contact with the gates and thus form a resilient dust-tight seal with the gates. Each of the gates are formed of a pair of plates that are suitably connected to a rod or tube that is journalled on the framework that supports the distributor tube. One of the plates forms a seal with the outlet conduit and the other plate forms a liner for the distributor tube and is angularly disposed to prevent the lodging of aggregate in the tube. The gate is so arranged that when pivotally open, an overflow opening is provided adjacent the point of pivoting to permit grain or the like to return to the tube beneath the gate in the event that the particular bin and the outlet conduit connected therewith is filled. Thus provision is made for returning any surplus product to the distributor which is provided with a suitable overflow spout at the lower end of the tube to receive and properly return to the source any surplus quantities of product without causing the distributor to become choked. To control the gates, each is provided with a lever that is connected to the gate and positioned on the outer surface of the framework that supports the tube. Since the inwardly swinging gates are provided on opposite sides of the tube, the several levers extending from each individual gate form two opposing lines of levers along a central section of the tube. The outer ends of the levers are provided with suitable roller means that are adapted to extend through a guide mechanism which is carried by a flexible member, and the contact with this flexible member assures the gates of all being held in a closed position. A suitable tripping mechanism is carried by the guide mechanism, and by moving the flexible member relative to the several levers, any selected lever and thus any selected bin may be chosen to receive all of the aggregate descending through the distributor tube.

The distributor is customarily mounted in a cupola of the elevator and the distributing ducts extend at various angles to the numerous receiving bins. In order that these ducts be easily removable, cylindrical joints are provided between the duct sections, and means are provided to seal these joints to give a dust-tight metal-to-metal seal. 7

The present invention constitutes a modification of the distributor shown in my prior Patent 2,368,872, dated February 6, 1945.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved vertical type of distributor which is dust-tight, and assures against the intermingling of different bodies of aggregate.

Another object is to provide a vertical distributor comprising a tube in which two opposing sides are formed of vertically spaced inwardly swinging gates that form individual discharges from the tube to individual outlet spouts.

Another object is to provide a vertical distributor composed of a framework that supports a multiplicity of vertically spaced inwardly swinging gates, together with replaceable liners disposed between the framework and the gates, and resilient means between the framework and the liners to bias the liners against the edges of the gates to thereby form a dust-tight seal about each of the gates.

Another object is to provide in combination with a vertical distributor and anoutlet conduit connected thereto, of a gate carried by the distributor for controlling the flowof material to the conduit, and arranged to vent material back into the distributor when the conduit is choked.

Another object is to provide a distributor for grain and the like composed of a framework that supports a multiplicity of distributing tubes in side by side relationship with each other, and each consisting of a multiplicity of vertically spaced gates journalled on the framework and with suitable control means extending to the sides of the framework for selecting and operating the gates of the individual tubes.

A further object is to provide a distributor for grain and the'like embodying a vertical tube having an overflow outlet at the top and bottom of the tube and with a multiplicity of outlet spouts positioned in staggered relationship with each other on the opposite sides of the tube, together with an inwardly swinging gate for each spout, and with means carried on the exterior of the tube for controlling the operation of the gates, and remote control means for operating the gate controlling mechanism.

Other and further objects may become apparent from the following description and claims, and in the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vertical type distributor for grain and the like forming the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the distributor shown in Fig. l, and illustrates interior features of the distributor;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing a distributor composed of two vertical tubes in side-by-side relationship with each other;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the gate control structure shown in Fig. l, and with certain parts broken away to show interior construction;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4, showing inside elevation a portion of the gate control mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the gate tripping mechanism taken on line 66 of Fig. 5;

'Fig. 7 is a plan view of the connection between two tube sections of the distributor shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a spout and connected tube shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the spout and tube shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the wall structure forming one side of the distributing tube;

Figs. 12 and 13 are views of the remote control mechanism for operating the gate controllers;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but of a distributor composed of three vertical tubes; and,

Fig. 15 is an enlargement of a part of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the invention will be described in detail. Where the term grain is used it should be understood that this term applies to similar aggregates such as seed and feed.

Referring first to Fig. 1, general reference numeral indicates in its entirety a vertical type grain distributor consisting of one or more vertical tubes indicated at 22 that are supported on a suitable base structure 24. The central distributor tube or tubes are indicated in their entirety by reference numeral 22 and are provided with an upper inlet indicated at 26, into which grain is delivered by suitable elevating mechanism generally consisting of a multiplicity of buckets carried by an endless belt. Extending angularly from the distributor tube adjacent its base is an overflow conduit 28 which is in unrestricted communication with the interior of tube 22 and will receive all material passing therethrough which has not been otherwise diverted. An upper overflow conduit 30 extends from the upper limits of tube 22, and contains a gravity closed gate indicated at 31. Conduits 28 and 39 are joined to a common conduit 32 to receive and return to the source any grain not properly distributed by the means within and connected to distributor tube 22, to be described. A multiplicity of angularly extending depending chutes 34 extend from the distributor tube 22 for conveying grain to any one of a multiplicity of bins, not shown, where the grain is stored or maintained on a temporary basis.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 taken in conjunction with Fig. 11, reference characters 35 and 36 represent the framework of the distributor and consist of plates which extend vertically from the base structure 24 and are positioned in laterally spaced apart relation with respect to each other. The distributor shown in Fig. 3 is a double tube distributor and therefore the framework of the second distributor is indicated at 38 and 40 and is of identical nature. Two gates indicated generally at 42 and 44 form'opposite sidesof one tube, and gates 46, 48 indicate opposite sides of the other tube, but as seen in Fig. 2, the gates on the opposite lateral sides of the tube are in staggered relationship and therefore their structure does not appear identical in Fig. 3. The lateral wall structure of the tubes which is best seen in Fig. 11, consists of two strips of sponge rubber 51 and 52 which are adhered to the inner surface of one of the frames here shown as element 35. These strips of sponge rubber extend vertically throughout the entire height of the frame. Adhering to the inner surfaces of the sponge rubber strips 51 and 52 is a thin metal layer 54, and interior to the thin layer 54 is a liner 56. As best seen in Fig. 2, the liner 56 is in reality a number of sectional elements here indicated as 56a56e. The reason for providing the liner in small sections is to make it easily replaceable at various portions in the distributor tube where frictional wear is likely to cause replacement. As best seen in Fig. 3, four of these liner sections are indicated at 56, 57, 58 and 59, and it will be noted that they are held in contact with the outer edges of the respective gates by the sponge rubber layers, which in Fig. 3 are uniformly identified by the same reference numerals 51 and 52.

As best seen in Fig.2 taken in conjunction with Fig. 3, the gates 42 and 44, which are similar in construction, consist of an outer metal plate 60 which carries a bar 62 at its inner lower extremity. Extending across the bottom edges of plate '60 and bar 62 is a sponge rubber layer 64. Secured to the inner edge of bar 62 is a member 66, which may be either a rod or tube, which as best seen in Fig. 3 is journalled in bearing 68 and 70 of the frame pieces 35, 36. An inner plate 72 is secured to the member 66 on the sides opposite bar 62 and slopes outwardly to the upper limits of plate 60. The inner plate 72 slopes inwardly over the member 66 so as to deflect any grain descending through the tube 22 away from the bar and thus form an unimpeded descending surface for the grain. As best seen in the middle portion of Fig. 2, one of the gates is shown in a position swung inwardly within the tube 22 and by reason of the pivotal movement to the gate on member '66, an opening '74 is provided beneath the lower limits of the gate, which opening is normally closed by the sponge rubber pad 64 when the gate is in a closed position.

It should be noted'that the s'everal'liner plates 56a-56e eachhave their upper and lower limits corresponding with the pivotal mounting of the gates on one side of the tube so that by the removal of one of the gates a corresponding liner plate 56 may also be removed.

.The structure of all of the gates is identical, and further reference to structure of gates 46 and 48 will therefore be omitted except for the reference to member 66a which is identical in construction and support with member 66 of gate 42.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the several gate rods which hereinafter will be collectively referred to by reference character 66, extend outwardly through frame member 35 where they are secured in block 76 by a bolt 78. Extending from block 76 is a lever 80 which has a roller 82 pivotally mounted on its outer bifurcated end.

As best seen in Fig. l, the outer ends of the several levers 80 and rollers 82 extend in staggered opposing relationship with each other slightly beyond a center line of the tube 22, and tortuously extending between the several rollers 82 is a flexible chain 84 which engages the several rollers 82 so as to hold the respective levers and gates under tension and in a normally closed position. The chain 84 extends over a pair of sprockets 86, 88 which are carried by brackets 90 and 92 that are secured to the outer surface of the frame piece 35.

As best seen in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the chain 84 between two ends designated as 84a and 84b is connected to a member 94 which carries a mechanism for engaging a selected lever and roller combination to open one of the gates. Member 94 on its opposite lateral surfaces is provided with a pair of grooves 95, 96 which receive the respective rollers 82 of the two lines of levers representing the oppositely disposed gates. Situated between the opposite ends of member 94 is a rectangular open box-like portion 97 which is in communication at its opposite ends with the grooves 95, 96 so that each roller 82 passes therethrough when the chain 84 is moved. lournalled on portion 97 by means of a pivot 98 is a lever 99 whose inner end is substantially U-shaped, thereby providing a roller engaging portion 100 which on movement of the lever to the position shown in Fig. 5 extends across the path of rollers 82 from either side of the tube to move the roller within the box-like portion and hold the same in a locked condition, with the respective gate in an inwardly swung position. A spring 102 normally biases the lever 99 to an inactive position, shown in Fig. 15, and a cord 104 is provided for moving lever 99 to an active position.

Suitably attached to the chain at a point indicated as 84c is a cord 106 that extends over a pulley 108 supported by bracket 92, and over another pulley indicated at 110 to a control point which is remote from the distributor 20. Also connected to chain 84 at the point 84c is a cord 112 which extends under a pulley 114 supported by bracket 90, and thence extending over a pulley 116 to the same remote control mechanism that is provided for cord 106. it will be evident that by alternately pulling on cords 106 or 112 that the chain 84 and member 94 and its associated parts may be moved in opposite directions with respect to the rollers and levers connected to the multiplicity of gates.

Referring now to Figs. 12 and 13 is shown one form of remote control mechanism by which the chain 84 can be moved in opposite directions. Mounted on a support 118 which would probably be on the first floor of the elevator construction is a box 120 which holds a pair of bearings 122, 124 that support a shaft 126 on which is mounted a pinion gear 128, and a pulley 130. The shaft 126 is here shown as being manually operated by'a crank 132. The cords 106 and 112 are secured to opposite ends of a link chain 134 which extends under the pinion gear 128, and has secured to its outer surface a flexible index 136, that would normally carry indications of the numerous bins to which the chutes 34 and their connecting conduits extend. In order to keep the cords 106 and 112 in a proper taut condition, a belt tightening mechanism in the form of a bolt 138 extends from the lower extremity of box and cooperates with a bracket 140 that is suitably secured to the support 118.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in conjunction with Figs. 9 and 10, the chutes heretofore indicated generally at 34 will be explained. Since the chutes are all of a common construction, they are formed of side walls 142, 144, with top wall 146, and bottom wall 148. As best seen in Fig. 3, the chutes are bolted onto the frame structure 35, 36, or 38, 40, or to two of said frames by means of bolts immediately on the outside of any one of the several gates, and any one chute may extend across one or more gates as desired. As best seen in the lower portion of Fig. 2, between the top wall 146 of one of the chutes and the bottom wall 148 of another chute are interposed layers of sponge rubber 154 so as to render these joints resilient and tight against the leakage of dust from the interior of the tube or the chute. The configuration of each of the chutes is best seen in Fig. 9 and may be described as being of a funnel-like construction converging to a member 156 which is of circular configuration on its outer end and is provided with a circular flange 158. Member 156 is adapted to be connected to an adapter 160 which is provided with flanges 162, 164 on its opposite ends to form connections with the member 156, and a tubular conduit 166 which is also provided with a flange 168.

As best seen in Figs. 7 and 8, two of the flanges here indicated at 158, 162, have a metal-to-metal contact and are held in a dust-tight relationship by an annular member 170 which is in the form of a split ring whose opposite ends are bound to each other by a bolt 1'72. The inner surface of member 170 is best seen in Fig. 8 and consists of two laterally inwardly sloping surfaces 174,.176 that are joined by a flat surface 178. The converging surfaces 174, 176 effect a continuous wedging effect on the flange surfaces 158, 162 and form a dust-tight metal-to-metal seal as the bolt 172 is tightened.

Referring now to Fig. 14 is shown a modification of the device to the extent of the provision of a triple tube distributor, as distinguished from a single tube distributor shown in Fig. 2 and a double. tube distributor shown in Fig. 3 and the general structure of the triple tube distributor is the same as previously described. Here three gates on one side of the structure indicated by reference characters 42a, 42b and 42c are in vertically staggered relationship to three opposite gates indicated by reference characters 44a, 44b and 440. As here shown, gate 42c is controlled by a rod 66 which extends through the frame on the lower side of the figure, and gate 42b is controlled by a rod 66a which extends through the frame on the upper side of the structure. In order to provide for operation of gate 42a, a tube 66b circumscribes rod 66a and carries on its outer end a block 7612 to which the corresponding lever is secured, with the rod 66a extending to a block 76 which is situated in a plane parallel to block 76b. According to this arrangement two independent chain elements 84 and their lever operating members would be situated on one side of the frame structure represented as the upper side of the figure, and another chain structure 84 and its lever operating members would be situated on the opposite side of the frame member indicated at the lower side of the figure. Thus each of the several sets of gates 44a and 42a; 44b and 42b; and 440 and 42c would be operated independently of the remaining gates forming the triple tube distributor.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawing, the operation of the invention will be explained. It should be understood that despite the fact that the distributor may consist of a single tube or any multiple of tubes, as shown in Figs. 3 and 14, the operation of the distributor will be substantially unchanged by this arrangement. The provision of multiple distributors is for larger elevators, or in terminal elevators as distinguished from small country elevators. The grain is elevated to the head of the tube by elevating mechanism not shown, and is dumped into the 7 top of the 'tubeithrough the opening 26. Unless .one of the gates isin an open position, as shown towards the .lower portion of Fig.2, all of the grain passing "through the distributor will descend and go out through the overflow tube 28 returning toits source through the conduit 32. In the event that anything unforeseen should occur that would tend to block the distributor, the upper overflow tube is provided with a gravity controlled gate 31 that is normally closed, but if the tube should become choked, the pressure of grain against gate 31 would open the same and all of the incoming grain would pass through conduits 30 and 32, returning to the source. Normally, all of the gates are maintained in a'closed position to guard against interming'ling of grain, and this condition may be tested by pulling on cord 106, seen in Fig. 1. If an' gate is open, it will be impossible to move chain34, and to close an open gate it is necessary to rotate crank 132 to pull on cord 112 since this movement causes the lever to rotate the gate to a closed position. Moreover, the tortuous contact of chain 84 with the outer limits of the several rollers 82 will assure that all of the other gates are maintained in a closed position. Then, to select the desired bin, the crank 132 is rotated until the desired bin, as indicated by index 136 is selected. Since the gates are in a staggered relationship with each other, it is only possible to open one gate at a time and regardless of which side of the tube the selected gate is situated. By pulling downwardly on the cord 104 the tripping lever 99 is moved from its inactive position until portion 100 extends across the interior of portion 97 and the path of the roller 82 entering member 97 from channels '95, 96. Then crank 132 is rotated in a clockwise direction to move member 94 downwardly, whence member 100 will engage one of the rollers, causing the same to move inwardly within the interior of the box-like portion 97 and will hold the roller in a locked condition, thereby rotating a selected lever 80 and its corresponding gate to an inwardly swung position as shown in Fig. 2. With the gate in the inwardly swung position, all the grain descending through the tube 22 passes to the selected spout 34, and because the side plates, indicated in Fig. 3 as 56, 57, 58 and 59, are resiliently held against the gates by'the sponge rubber layers 51, 52, a relatively tight seal is formed about the gate so that no grain will leak past the gate. In the event that the selected bin is filled to overflowing and the connected tube and spout also become filled, the opening '74 between the lower extremity of the gate and the lower extremity of the spout will permit any excessive grain to return to 'the tube below the gate and thence pass safely through the overflow spout 28. Obviously, opening 74 will not accommodate the full volume of grain passing through the tube 22, and eventually the tube willfill to the extent that the gravity biased gate 31 will open to permit the excess grain .to flow through the upper overflow outlet 30. It frequently happen that where large volumes of grain travel continuously to a selected spout, that the frictional movement of the grain may cause considerable wear on the interior of the tube at certain points in the tube. Any gate, or any set of tube liners such as elements 56-59 may be easily replaced by removing a spout 34 whereafter the gate may be easily removed and the inner liner plates which are merely biased against 'the gate may likewise be easily removed and replaced.

Although the operation of the bin selector mechanism is here shown as being manually controlled through the rotation of crank 132, and the gate tripping mechanism manually operated by means of cord 104, it will be appreciatedthatmotor means could be provided to operate these portions of the structure, and that a motor such as a solenoid could be provided to operate the tripping lever 99.

The principal advantage of the present invention resides in the provision of a distributor which is dust-tight and or other aggregates, nor the retention of any portion of one body of material within any of the working parts to be later intermixed with other types of material.

Another advantage of the invention'is the provision of a distributor which is constructed and arranged to properly handle overflow of excessive grain or similar material when and if any bin is filled to overflowing.

Another advantage resides in the provision of a distributor in which'any of the essential parts may be easily replaced in the event of wear or damage.

A further advantage is the provision of a distributor that may be composed of a multiplicity of tubes each capable of handling an independent column of grain and the like and yet in which the entire structure occupies only a limited amount of space, being substantially less than that provided for in prior art structures.

My invention is defined in the terms of the appended claims, but with the understanding that the term grain shall apply to seeds, feed materials and similar aggregates.

1 claim:

l. A grain distributor, comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending frame members forming two opposite lateral sides of a vertical distributing tube into which material is introduced adjacent its upper limits, a material conveying spout formed with an open inner end mounted between similar lateral edges of said frame members for conveying material from the said tube, a plate between said frame members in front of the open inner end of the spout and forming a third side of the tube, and journaling means extending between said frame members and secured to said plate on the side opposite the spout and about the lower limits thereof and supporting the plate for inwardly swinging movement within the tube in such a manner that when in its inwardly swung position it constitutes a barrier across the interior of the tube forming an entry from the tube to the spout on the upper side of the plate and an overflow opening between the spout and the lower edge of the plate to permit bypassing of granular material about the lower edge of the plate when-the spout-is filled.

2. A grain distributor, comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending frame members forming two opposite lateral sides of a vertical distributing tube into which material is introduced adjacent its upper limits, a material conveying spout having an open inner end mounted between similar lateral edges of said frame members for conveying material from the said tube, a first plate between said frame members in front of the inner open end of the spout, journaling means extending between said frame members and secured to the side of said plate opposite the spout and above the lower limits thereof and supporting the plate for inwardly swinging movement within the tube in such a manner that when the plate is in its inwardly swung position it constitutes a barrier across the interior of the tube and forms an entry from the tube to the spout on one side of the plate and an overflow opening between the spout and the lower edge of the plate to permit by-passing of granular material around the'lower edge of the plate when the spout is filled, and a second plate within the tube overlying the inner surface of the first plate and secured at its lower limits to said journaling means on the side thereof opposite the first plate to prevent material from lodging on the journaling means.

3. A .grain distributor, comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending frame members forming two opposite lateral sides of a vertical distributing tube into which material is introduced adjacent its upper limits, at least two material conveying spouts having open inner ends mounted between the frame members in opposed vertical staggered relationship with each other, and an inwardly swingable gate journaled between the lateral edges 'of said frame members across the inner open end of each-of saidspoutsand collectively forming the third and fourth 'lateral'sides ofthedistributing tube, either of said gates when in its inwardly swung position forming a barrier for laterally diverting material into the respective spouts, one of said gates when in its inwardly swung position engaging the other gate and acting to prevent the opening of said latter gate.

4. A grain distributor, comprising a vertical tube having an inlet opening adjacent its upper end and a return outlet adjacent its bottom end, an overflow conduit extending laterally from the tube adjacent its upper end and connected with the return outlet, a delivery spout carried on the side of the tube beneath the overflow conduit, an inwardly swingable gate forming a side of the tube in front of the delivery spout and which when moved inwardly within the tube forms a barrier which diverts descending material into the delivery spout, said gate pivotally supported within the tube in such a manner as to form an entryfrom the tube to the spout on one side of the gate and an overflow opening between the delivery spout and the tube on the opposite side of the gate when the delivery spout is filled, and means connected to the gate andpositioned exterior'to the tube for moving the gate between open and closed position with respect to the tube.

5. A grain distributor, comprising a vertical tube having an inlet opening adjacent its upper end and a return outlet adjacent its bottom end, an overflow conduit extending from said tube adjacent its upper end and connected to the return outlet, at least two delivery spouts disposed on opposite sides of the tube for delivering material conveyed through the tube, an inwardly swingable gate disposed in front of each of the delivery spouts which when closed with respect to the spout forms a side of the tube, and when inwardly swung forms a barrier in the tube for diverting material into the spout, each of said gates pivotally supported within the tube in such a manner as to form an overflow opening between the spout and the tube at the area of mounting of the gate for overflow when the spout is filled, and a gate control mechanism carried on the exterior of the tube and being selectively operable to move only one of said gates to its inwardly swung position while maintaining the other gate in its closed position with respect to each of the spouts.

6. A grain distributor, comprising a vertical tube having an inlet opening adjacent its upper end, an outlet spout carried on one side of the tube having an open inner end communicating with the interior of the tube, a gate for said spout consisting of a first plate extending across the open inner end of the spout and forming a wall of the tube when the gate is closed, a journalling means extending transversely and supported within the tube adjacent the lower limits of the spout and secured to the outer surface of the first plate above its lower limits, a second plate within the tube overlying the inner surface of the first plate and secured adjacent its lower limits to said journalling means on the side thereof opposite the first plate, said gate when rotated inwardly within the tube forms a barrier within the tube for diverting material in the direction of the spout and also forms an overflow opening between the lower limits of the first plate and the spout, and means positioned exterior to the tube and secured to said journalling means for rotating the gate between open and closed positions with respect to the spout.

7. A grain distributor, comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending frame members forming the opposite lateral limits of a distributing tube, a movable gate journalled between one lateral edge of each of said frame members and forming a third side of the distributing tube, said gate being inwardly swingable within the tube, a side plate disposed on either side of the gate and interior to the frame members, and resilient means disposed between each frame member and the respective 10 plate to bias the side plate inwardly against the edges of the gate and form a resilient contact with the gate.

8. A grain distributor, comprising at least two laterally spaced vertically extending frame members forming the opposite lateral limits of at least one distributing tube, at least two laterally extending inwardly swingable gates journalled to the opposite edges of said frame members and forming the third and fourth sides of the tube, a liner plate disposed on either side of each of said gates and interior to the frame members and forming inner liners of the tube, and resilient means disposed between each frame member and the respective plate and biasing said plates in the direction of the lateral edges of the gates.

9. A grain distributor, comprising at least two laterally spaced vertically extending frame members forming the opposite lateral limits of at least one distributing tube, a plurality of laterally extending movable gates journalled to two of said frame members in consecutive vertical alignment on one side of the frame members and forming collectively a third side of the tube, individual side plates disposed on either side of each of said gates and collectively forming inner liners in the tube interior to the frame members, and resilient means between the frame members and the side plates biasing the latter against the edges of the gates.

10. A grain distributor, comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending frame members forming the opposite lateral limits of a distributing tube, a multiplicity of inwardly swinging gates journalled on opposite edges of said frame members in staggered relationship with each other and collectively forming the remaining sides of the tube, a connecting member joined to each of said gates on one side of one of said frame members, said several connecting members forming two rows on one side of the frame member with their outer ends in staggered opposition to each other, a gate selector carried on the exterior surface of the tube which is vertically movable between and relative to the outer ends of said connecting members, and tripping means carried by said gate selector which when actuated engages the outer end of one of said connecting members to rotate the respective gate to an inwardly swung position.

11. A grain distributor, comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending frame members forming the opposite lateral limits of a distributing tube, a multiplicity of inwardly swingable gates journalled on the opposite lateral edges of said frame members in alternate staggered relationship with each other and collectively forming the remaining sides of said tube, a lever connected to each gate on the outer side of one of the frame members, said levers collectively forming two opposing rows with their outer ends in staggered relationship with each other, and a flexible member carried on the outer side of said frame member and extending tortuously between the outer ends of said levers for holding said gates in a normally closed position to form sides of the tube.

12. A grain distributor, comprising a vertical tube having an inlet opening adjacent its upper end, a multiplicity of outlet spouts carried on the outer surface of said tube with inner open ends communicating with the interior of said tube, said spouts being disposed in vertical relation with each other, an individual inwardly swingable gate for each spout carried on the interior of the tube in front of the inner open end of each of the spouts, each of said gates being individually movable between open and closed positions with respect to the spouts, a connecting member joined to each of said gates and positioned on an outer surface of said tube, a gate selector carried on the outer surface of the tube which is movable relative to said con necting members, a gate tripping member carried by said gate selector and when operative selectively engages one of said connecting members to move its connected gate to an open position relative to its respective spout, means for moving said gate selector, and indexing means oper- 1 1 ativelyconnectedto said last named means to indicate the position of said gate tripping member relative to said several connecting members.

13. A grain distributor, comprising a vertical tube having an inlet opening adjacent its upper end, a multiplicity of inwardly swingable gates journalled on two opposite sides of the tube and disposed in vertically spaced relation with each other, an individual lever connected with each of said gates and positioned on the outer side of the tube, said levers collectively forming two vertical rows of'levers whose outer ends extend in the direction of each other in staggered relationship, a movable member which extends between the outer ends of said levers, a track carried by said last named member which engages the outer ends of the levers, said track having an opening 1 posite lateral limits of a distributing tube, an inwardly swingable gate member journalled between said frame members and when outwardly swung forming a side of the tube, a spout member carried by the frame members on the outer side of the gate and having an inner open end which is in communication with the tube when the gate is inwardly swung, and resilient gaskets carried by saidspout member and said gate member for engagement with opposing portions of said members to form a dusttight seal between the tube and the spout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 483,404 Stuebner Sept. 27, 1892 521,875 Braman June 26, 1894 669,673 Averbeck Mar. 12, 1901 1,234,221 Russell July 24, 1917 1,646,463 Stokesberry Oct. 25, 1927 1,757,634 Jacques May 6, 1930 2,029,205 Sumner et a1 Jan. 28, 1936 2,368,872 Patterson Feb. 6, 1945 

